Daily Update: Extreme Rules, SmackDown ratings, Matt Riddle

Daily Update

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Saturday News Update

WWE

  • Last night’s season premiere episode of SmackDown averaged 2.133 million viewers in the fast national ratings, up from last week’s fast national average of 2.076 million. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.5.
  • I previewed tonight’s Extreme Rules PPV for Sports Illustrated and gave my predictions for each match.
  • Paul Heyman narrated the cold open for Extreme Rules.
  • Daniel Cormier and Karrion Kross & Scarlett were interviewed on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon in advance of Extreme Rules.
  • WWE shared video of Ronda Rousey and Daniel Cormier reconnecting prior to tonight’s PPV.
  • Matt Riddle appeared as the guest on WWE After the Bell this week. During the interview, he spoke about the difference between his personal and professional life right now:
          • Well, I’ll say this. My personal life is in shambles. I’m not gonna cry on this show, but my personal life is pretty brutal. It’s been a rough year for me, a rough couple years dude. But yeah, professionally, though, my life is amazing. It’s great. I think right now, I think for tag team wrestling when Randy was here, I was at my apex of tag team wrestling. I think right now when it comes to my singles career, I’m still in its infancy. I feel like especially this year, you know, take Money in the Bank for example. I was so close to getting that briefcase and then I got knocked up after already RKOing Seth off the top and doing all this crazy stuff. I wrestled Roman, hit him with an RKO, almost had him and almost had him again, but didn’t. So I just feel like right now in my singles career, I’m like the little engine that can’t (he laughs). I’m chugging along, but once I get to the top of the hill, I seem to run out of steam. You know, but right now, I think this match with Seth tomorrow will take me to that next level. I think it’s a steady process uphill, but my engine can keep going. I got the fuel. I got the coal bro. I’m gonna keep throwing it in the fire and I’m gonna make it up over this hill, and I think I’m gonna see my next singles championship sooner than later. Definitely sooner than Seth, bro.
  • Seth Rollins told Sports Illustrated that he doesn’t know if there are two guys in wrestling operating on the same level as him and Roman Reigns:
          • I don’t know if there’s two guys operating on a level as high as ours right now. That’s not to take away from anyone else. You have so many incredible talents that are kicking it into gear. Drew McIntyre comes to mind. So do Kevin Owens and Bianca Belair. There’s a lot of people cooking and have the capability to reach the next level, but when it comes to reactions from the crowd and interaction with our audience, I don’t think there is anybody operating on the level Roman and I are now.
          • But here’s the best part. As good as I believe I am, and as good as Roman thinks that he is, the industry is filled with people who think they’re the best. I think that’s awesome. That’s pushing everyone forward. Drew thinks he’s the best. Kenny Omega thinks he’s the best. Mox [Jon Moxley] thinks he’s the best. Will Ospreay thinks he’s the best. I love that confidence and that vibe. That pushes all of us to be our best.
  • The New York Post asked Finn Balor how Rhea Ripley puts The Judgment Day’s presentation over the top: “It’s such a hard question to answer. She has that it-factor that you can’t explain. I don’t think she realizes how much of that it-factor she has. She’s so young. She has such incredible presence. She’s an incredible performer. She has so much potential that I’m sure she will reach. But to answer that question is impossible. It’s just really unique to see it and feel it and witness it firsthand to kind of go ‘ah I get it.’ It’s not something that I can explain to you and you can understand. You just have to see it to believe it.”
  • Balor also spoke about how Dominik Mysterio has worked as a heel: “I feel like he’s presented himself better than anyone’s expected. He’s far exceeded any expectation I had already. I feel like he’s just growing into the character and gonna get comfortable in himself. He’s so young. He’s so raw in his career, it’s so early. He’s still learning who he is as a person and who he is as a performer. To have such a dynamic change of direction and so early in your career has got to be a huge challenge and a huge test. I feel like he’s overcame with flying colors already. He’s gonna grow and grow over the next couple of years.”
  • In the post-show dark match at last night’s SmackDown, Matt Riddle defeated Damian Priest. Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Angel in a dark match before SmackDown went on the air.
  • Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, and The New Day were interviewed on The SmackDown LowDown.
  • Alexa Bliss appeared in the video for Dude Perfect’s wedding stereotypes.
  • WWE wished The Miz a happy 42nd birthday.
  • WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded New Day vs. Lashley, Styles & Omos from Extreme Rules 2021, Great Khali vs. Dolph Ziggler in a no DQ match from The Bash 2009, and an Undertaker/Brock Lesnar contract signing segment from the February 24, 2014 episode of Raw.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Renee Paquette tweeted about her husband Jon Moxley signing a five-year contract extension with AEW: “So proud of Jon! Just casually watching him carve out his own legacy in real time.”
  • Paquette is hosting a new podcast for the Cincinnati Bengals called Renee All Dey.
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH uploaded videos with Sting and Tony Khan discussing the Great Muta.
  • ET Canada interviewed Ethan Page.
  • Julia Hart was the guest on this week’s edition of AEW Unrestricted.
  • Frankie Kazarian tweeted after winning the Impact X-Division title at Bound for Glory: “1. @SpeedballBailey is the f*cking man. 2. BFG was awesome. 3. 4,159 days in between title reigns. 4. 100th X Division champion. 5. I am NOT defined by initials of wrestling companies. New X Champ. Don’t like it? [middle finger emoji]”
  • A street fight between Moose and Sami Callihan has been announced for tonight’s Impact Wrestling TV tapings.
  • Thursday’s episode of Impact averaged 89,000 viewers on AXS TV, which is down from the 100,000 viewers that last week’s episode average. The show’s 18-49 demo rating ticked down to a 0.01.